Wave After Wave: Mills turns towel work into high art

An affable Australian and backup point guard by trade, 24-year-old Patty Mills did not re-sign with the Spurs last July with designs on becoming a glorified cheerleader. It just sort of worked out that way.

An affable Australian and backup point guard by trade, 24-year-old Patty Mills did not re-sign with the Spurs last July with designs on becoming a glorified cheerleader. It just sort of worked out that way.

Photo: Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News

Image 2 of 18

Photo: Illustration by Jesse Blanchard

Image 3 of 18

Photo: Illustration by Jesse Blanchard

Image 4 of 18

Photo: Illustration by Jesse Blanchard

Image 5 of 18

Photo: Illustration by Jesse Blanchard

Image 6 of 18

Photo: Illustration by Jesse Blanchard

Image 7 of 18

Photo: Illustration by Jesse Blanchard

Image 8 of 18

Photo: Illustration by Jesse Blanchard

Image 9 of 18

Photo: Illustration by Jesse Blanchard

Image 10 of 18

The Spurs' Patty Mills twirls a towel after a score against the Sacramento Kings at the AT&T Center on March 1, 2013.

The Spurs' Patty Mills twirls a towel after a score against the Sacramento Kings at the AT&T Center on March 1, 2013.

Photo: Kin Man Hui / San Antonio Express-News

Image 11 of 18

The Spurs' Patty Mills waves a towel after a score against the Sacramento Kings at the AT&T Center on Friday, Mar. 1, 2013. Spurs defeated the Kings, 130-102.

The Spurs' Patty Mills waves a towel after a score against the Sacramento Kings at the AT&T Center on Friday, Mar. 1, 2013. Spurs defeated the Kings, 130-102.

Photo: Kin Man Hui / San Antonio Express-News

Image 12 of 18

The Spurs' Patty Mills waves a towel after a score against the Sacramento Kings at the AT&T Center on Friday, Mar. 1, 2013.

The Spurs' Patty Mills waves a towel after a score against the Sacramento Kings at the AT&T Center on Friday, Mar. 1, 2013.

Photo: Kin Man Hui / San Antonio Express-News

Image 13 of 18

Patty Mills finds time to wave his towel in support of his Spurs teammates despite playing 22 minutes and scoring 13 points against the Chicago Bulls in the Spurs' 101-83 victory at the AT&T Center on March 6, 2013. less

Patty Mills finds time to wave his towel in support of his Spurs teammates despite playing 22 minutes and scoring 13 points against the Chicago Bulls in the Spurs' 101-83 victory at the AT&T Center on March 6, ... more

Photo: Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News

Image 14 of 18

Patty Mills finds time to wave his towel in support of his Spurs teammates despite playing 22 minutes and scoring 13 points against the Chicago Bulls in the Spurs' 101-83 victory at the AT&T Center on March 6, 2013. less

Patty Mills finds time to wave his towel in support of his Spurs teammates despite playing 22 minutes and scoring 13 points against the Chicago Bulls in the Spurs' 101-83 victory at the AT&T Center on March 6, ... more

Photo: Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News

Image 15 of 18

Patty Mills finds time to wave his towel in support of his Spurs teammates despite playing 22 minutes and scoring 13 points against the Chicago Bulls in the Spurs' 101-83 victory at the AT&T Center on March 6, 2013. less

Patty Mills finds time to wave his towel in support of his Spurs teammates despite playing 22 minutes and scoring 13 points against the Chicago Bulls in the Spurs' 101-83 victory at the AT&T Center on March 6, ... more

Photo: Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News

Image 16 of 18

Patty Mills finds time to wave his towel in support of his Spurs teammates despite playing 22 minutes and scoring 13 points against the Chicago Bulls in the Spurs' 101-83 victory at the AT&T Center on March 6, 2013. less

Patty Mills finds time to wave his towel in support of his Spurs teammates despite playing 22 minutes and scoring 13 points against the Chicago Bulls in the Spurs' 101-83 victory at the AT&T Center on March 6, ... more

Photo: Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News

Image 17 of 18

Spurs' Tim Duncan (center) and Patty Mills cheer on the guys on the floor against the New Orleans Hornets on Jan. 23, 2013. Spurs defeated the Hornets, 106-102.

Spurs' Tim Duncan (center) and Patty Mills cheer on the guys on the floor against the New Orleans Hornets on Jan. 23, 2013. Spurs defeated the Hornets, 106-102.

Photo: Kin Man Hui / San Antonio Express-News

Image 18 of 18

Wave After Wave: Mills turns towel work into high art

1 / 18

Back to Gallery

By Jeff McDonald, Staff Writer

Kawhi Leonard ripped the ball from Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook, dribbled behind his back to avoid Kendrick Perkins near midcourt and, in a blink, finished a soaring left-handed dunk that later would show up on all the national highlight shows.

That’s when Patty Mills went to work.

Already standing near his spot at the end of the Spurs’ bench, Mills began furiously waving his towel in a circular motion at his side, celebrating the signature moment of a March 11 victory over the Thunder with a move he calls “The Propeller.”

With a Rolodex of such maneuvers in his repertoire, Mills certainly had other options.

“My go-to is ‘The Ninja,’ straight up and down,” Mills said. “But when I get excited, I pull out ‘The Chopper’ or ‘The Propeller.’ ”

An affable Australian and backup point guard by trade, the 24-year-old Mills did not re-sign with the Spurs last July with designs on becoming a glorified cheerleader.

It just sort of worked out that way.

What began as a means for the little-used Mills to remain engaged while sitting on the bench has become a folk phenomenon.

Mills has posted a pair of towel-waving, how-to videos on the Internet under the pseudonym “Patty Stacks,” and his antics have become a pet topic in the Spurs blogosphere.

Inspired by Mills’ creativity, the Spurs have begun to market a “rally towel,” sold at the AT&T Center during games and online.

“A lot of the time, guys who sit on the bench tend to lose interest or have a bad attitude because they’re not on the court,” Mills said. “For me, high-fives and waving towels is a way to stay connected.”

Other Spurs have come to appreciate the role Mills fills, even during a season in which his playing time has been sporadic.

“That’s just how Patty is,” guard Danny Green said. “He’s an energetic guy. Even when he’s not on the court, he’s going to find a way to be Patty.”

“HOME OF THE CHOPPER”

Mills’ career as the Jimi Hendrix of towel-waving began innocently enough. He spun them in Portland during his first two seasons, too, but it never caught on until he hit South Texas.

At a game earlier this season, Mills celebrated a teammate’s performance by instinctively twirling a towel over his head in a helicopter motion.

In the time since, Mills has named at least nine of his moves. Others include “The Fire Alarm” (flapped with two hands, as if extinguishing a stovetop inferno), “The Zorro” (two slashes in a ‘Z’ formation) and “The Slapper” (pounded on the court in a fit of ecstasy).

Some of Mills’ maneuvers are more dangerous than others. Pity the poor ball boy who takes a towel to the face when wandering too close to the “The Chopper.”

Low-quality equipment also can pose a problem.

“There have been a number of times the towels tend to shed,” Mills said. “So I might wave it one time, and you see a wave of snow. Everybody kind of gets angry at me when that happens.”

TAO OF THE TOWEL

Given the choice, Mills would rather be known for his contributions on the court.

After leading the entire Olympic field in scoring last August in London, when he averaged 21.2 points in helping guide the Australian team to a surprising berth in the quarterfinals, the 6-foot Mills assumed he would be in line for bigger things once he returned to the Spurs.

Instead, Mills has spent his fourth season in and out of coach Gregg Popovich’s rotation, averaging less than 11 minutes in 54 appearances.

One of the traits Popovich admires in role players is an ability to “enjoy other people’s success.” Mills undeniably checks that box.

“He’s a fine example of a professional, somebody that does his job and stays ready,” Popovich said. “He’s a great teammate. He embodies all those characteristics. That’s really important for a team.”

Mills’ inspirational talents aren’t just limited to towel-waving. When the Spurs were flying back from Cleveland on Valentine’s Day, Mills unpacked his acoustic guitar and entertained the traveling party by performing the Sam Cooke song “Cupid” over the plane’s public-address system.

“I messed it up a few times,” Mills said, “but it was all for a good laugh.”

If Mills has his way, he will over the next few weeks return to being known primarily for his basketball skills. The Spurs are in the heat of the Western Conference playoff race, and Mills would love nothing more than to supply a big basket or two to the run.

If that doesn’t happen, rest assured Mills will always be there to lend a hand to his team. More than likely, that hand will have a towel in it.

“I’ve always thought the things you do off the court translate onto the court,” Mills said. “It’s how I like to live my life. Have fun and enjoy it, have a little laugh.”

jmcdonald@express-news.net
Twitter: @JMcDonald_SAEN

OTHER FAMOUS TOWEL-USERS IN SPORTS HISTORY

Jerry Tarkanian: “The Shark” was renowned for chomping on them during his time as coach at UNLV — and for 20 ill-fated games with the Spurs in 1992.

Vinnie Vecchione: The corner man for boxer Peter McNeeley infamously threw it in 89 seconds into his fighter’s bout against Mike Tyson in 1995.

Robert Horry: Before he became “Big Shot Rob” in Los Angeles and San Antonio, Horry took an ill-advised shot at his coach, Danny Ainge, in Phoenix.

Pittsburgh Steelers fans: They began waving their gold and black “Terrible Towels” back when Terry Bradshaw still had hair.

Jack Haley: Patty Mills’ towel-waving predecessor at the end of the Spurs’ bench. Although, hanging out with Dennis Rodman was probably more hazardous to one’s health than hanging with Aron Baynes.